Improved railway-car coupling



W. V. WALLACE.

A Car Coupling. No. 96,059. Patented 901;. 19, 1999 iinited tntea @anni cette.

WILLI-AM V. WALLACE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent N 96,059, dated ctobefr 1.9, 1869.

IMPROVED RAILWAY-CAR COUPLING.

The-Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part oi the same.

drawingsaccompanying this specification, and making a part thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a car-coupling, that may be produced at little cost, strong, and durable, not liable to get out of repair, and when any of the parts thereof are broken, lor too much worn for use, the same can be supplemented easily and without delay. This invention is what may be termed a self-coupler, and in certain conditions, a self-uncoupler.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use this, my invention, I will proceed to describe its con-` struction and operation.

Figure 1 isa sectional view of my coupling, and Figure 2, a top view of the same.

The coupling-bar B, is made of any suitable metal, and on each end of the saine, heads are ihrmed -of a conical or wedge shape, leaving a square shoulder, as shown at 1, in both figures.

This bar is made of sufficient length to hold (when coupled) the cars together in a free and easy manner, and a chain, c', connects the bar to the bunter, to prevent the saine from getting lost. 4The bunter, or receptacle for the coupling-device may be made sonrewhat in the usual form, as far as general appearance is concerned, but its shape must be adapted to recei vc the coupler, which is composed of two parts, C an d D, made of metal, and hinged together, and pivoted within the draw-l1ead A at c.

The inner portions of this coupler, C and D, are made concave, as shown in the drawings, and somewhat larger than the heads B of the draw-bar, so as force the same apart.

tion D drops, and the shoulders of the same and of.

to admit of easy access and play when the two cars are coupled.

The upper portion of the coupler D is to -be made of sui'cient weight to retain its positio upon the coupler C; or, if deemed advisable, a spring can be placed above D, to force it down.

A curved metallic plate, d, is att-ached to' the heel of the coupler D at e.

The operation is as follows:

In the act of coupling, the edge-shaped or conical heads of the coupler bar enter the coupler, and

\Vhen fully inserted, the pol'- the part C, are brought in contact with the shoulders of the bar B, and hold the cars firmly together.

The end B rests upon the plate d, so that when the rope 2 is drawn up, the head B is also raised, and easily withdrawn. Ii' the cars run off the track, a twist or turn is given to the bar, and this forces apart the jaws of the coupler, and the cars are released. The draw-bar, by this peculiar inode of coupling, is held in a horizontal position and ready to be inserted into the other car, without any nlanipulation, and all danger of being injured or crushed is thereby avoided.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A car-coupling, constructed and arranged iu the manner here-iu described.

2. The combination, wit-hin the draw-head, ofthe coupler C and D, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

3. The combination of the metallic plate (l wit-h the coupler C D, and the coupling-bar B, in the manuel' and for the purpose herein described.'

'ILLTAM V. "ALLACE.

Witnesses:

NATHANIEL Grin., WM. H. (lLAnKsos. 

